Meet the Mushroom Masters

We headed midtown to Mt. Vernon's Hotel Indigo after work for the opening reception of Kevin Hailey's 'The Lit Hyphae Trade', a series of paintings inspired by mycelium networks...

The ongoing exhibit is on display until April 13th 2023 in the lobby of the hotel. It is thanks to the efforts of Amy Cavanaugh Royce from Maryland Art Place that the hotel will be hosting a series of rotating exhibits this year.

We chatted with the artist about his painting process and ideas behind these pieces,  Postencephalitic Swells Out There and Musical Hallucinations Virtually Nonstop. Here is what he had to say...

"The Lit Hyphae Trade is a series of paintings concerning the movements and dynamics of mycelium. Hyphae are the branches in mycelium; a fungal network that is found everywhere from our guts to the deep woods. Mycelium acts as a communication for trade of nutrients and sustainer of life. The hyphae forms have proven to be an inspiring subject in my painting both in form and concept. The assumed chaos of the structure of mycelium under a microscope displays an eerily similar gesture to my paint strokes. I have unconsciously adapted this technique within the single dimensional paintings in this show. I have also begun to believe in cosmic mycelium further depicted in the paintings with rich cerebral-like color galaxies.

It is known that mycelium has adapted a unique “barter system” for nutrients with which the various plants and organisms are communicating through, thus posing mycelium itself as language. Mycelium as a language never displays a one-sided front. This approach to communication and bartering allows the plants the nutrients needed through a holistic and balanced behavioral model. I believe this possible Lingua Franca, established for the underground fungal world, could provide an example of how humans may achieve a more symbiotic and connected relationship with other earthly organisms, and ultimately ourselves."

We further discussed the concept of mushrooms in the cosmos, and the possibility of alien fungi invasions, a la "The Last of Us". 

Thanks to the efforts of the organizers at MAP, this eco-art event was a smashing success, with champagne flowing freely and artists, musicians, city planners and librarians gathered to appreciate mushroom art.